Powerlifting three Concordes to boost elderly care

A pair of powerlifting pensioners will be helping to lift the weight of three Concordes to raise money to boost elderly care in West Norfolk.

Jim Bird, 70, and 68-year-old Dan Ellington will be joining the winning Motiv8 Powerlifting team in lifting a total of 236 tons at the Tesco Extra store in Hardwick, King’s Lynn, on Saturday, 25 June, between 10am and 5pm, for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Motiv8 Exercise and Fitness Gym, which is based in North Lynn, is supporting the hospital’s bid to raise £50,000 to buy to buy specialist recliner chairs to administer physiotherapy, digital reminiscence therapy software to support patients living with dementia and anti-falls devices to enhance the care of frail and vulnerable patients in the trust.

The team along with coach James Jeffries will be deadlifting, squatting and bench pressing during the event to reach the goal weight. They are also hoping that members of the public will be joining in at the various stations.

Mr Jeffries, who enjoyed a successful weekend with the team at the World Drug Free Powerlifting Championships at Wrexham, is urging people to come along and have a go at the exercises which will be running during the day.

He said: “As the Queen Elizabeth is our local hospital, it makes sense to support it.

“Powerlifting is a sport for all ages as people never really lose their strength providing they keep training.

“Some people may think that powerlifters are great big muscle bound men but you would be surprised. We are hoping to dispel the myths to people who will be watching on 25 June.

“I would encourage people to come along and have a go as the weight bars will be moving up and down all day. And anyone can pick up 40kg.

“My guys will be doing the spectacular stuff and I’m hoping that we could get up to the weight of five Concordes.”

The Motiv8 team will be sending along 20 to 25 people on the day to help with the fundraising and to reach the 236 tons target weight.

Among the team members will be Nathan Harvey, who won a world record for lifting 307.5kg, and Lisa Cooper, who has pressed 170kg.

Also taking part will be Mr Ellington and his 15-year-old granddaughter Danielle, who is now a world record holder for lifting 170kg.

Fundraising executive Laurence Morlaàs says the gymn, which is owned by Mark Flowers, had raised £3,200 for the hospital in the past.

She said: “We are really grateful that Motiv8 are putting on a special event to support our older patients. It’s exciting that powerlifting can be very successfully done by ‘mature’ members of the community. As no prior experience is required I would like to encourage people of all ages to give it a go and grab a chance to take part in an unusual challenge. Register and join a team of three or make your own team with family members, friends and colleagues. All abilities will be catered for and supervised by professionals. People who do not wish to take part can help by sponsoring participants.”